Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-17
WORK OF THE FLAMES
ALARMING RIRHs IN NEW YORK CITY
YRsTEnDAY.
a Warehouse B,rned-Firomsn njared
by en- Explonos rs
cape Of Chrdren.
lBy telegraph to the Dis,scb.l

NEW YORK, July 16.-A fire was dis
covered about 3 o'clock this morning
in the five-story brick building OF the
Metropolitan storage warehouse, on
Thiriy-eighth street between Broadway
and Sixth avenue. In few moments
the flames mounted up through the
structure, finding ready food in the
light stuff there. Before the firemen
arrived, and while the place was a
raging furnace, the flames were shoot
ing up towards the sky, Three alarms
we're soon sent out and the special en-
CINE companies summoned from tn.
ncighboriDg districts. The warehouse
formed an 81 with the Casino build
ing, and for awhile it was feared that
that beautiful temple Of light opera
would be in ashes, but it was saved by
the strenuous efforts Of the fire
men. The Hocl Nomandie is quite
near, and soon sparks descending
on this building, set it on fire, and the
guests were hurriedly summoned 20
leave. Porters rushed through the
halls and knocked at every door. The
guests were told that the.c was no i'm
mediate danger. They asked if they
would have time to pack their valua-
bles, and, being answered in the afirma-
tive, soon packed their trunks and car
Iied them down stairs. The fire on the
roof in the Hotel Normandie was soon
extinguished, however, and the guests,
being reassured, went back to their
rooms. Soon after the fremen had got
to worn at the storage waIchvueo build
ing terrific explosion occurred, and
seven fremen, who were on the
first floor, were blown through the win
dows to the street. All of them were
very severely injured, and an ambu-
lance coll was sent ont. When the am
balances arrived most ofthe injured fire
men were unconscious, and by that time
five of them had been conveyed in
patrol wagons to the hospital. They
were Captain Vitler, of Engine No. 2G,
and four of his men. The other two
were John Conrad and John Douglas
of Engine. Company No. /. These
were taken TO the hospital in an ambu-
lance. The business of the warehouse
was conducted by Scion Ridabocker,
and the buildings and land are the
property of the Goelet estate. The
fire was discovered by the Waterman,
Angus Mcdonald, VINO was in the
building at the time, and at once
sounded an alarm. The damage as far
as could be estimated was half mil
million of dollars, although it may be
much more. The warehouse is used
10y New Workers who are out of town,
and contained furniture, paintings, and
valuable 6rjc-a-brdc of all kinds.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
The names Of the fremen injured
during the fire are Foreman Peter
Ncdder, head, face, and hands severely
burned Edward Curley, head and face
burncd-taken home; John Conway,
face and hands burned-taken home !;
John Irainor, face and hands burned ;
John Douglass, face and hands burned ;
James Delaney, face burned and cut ;
Patrick ID. Breen, severely burned.
Brcen WIS outside the building on a
ladder He was blown down, and fell
twenty feet. He sustained conclusion
of the spine. Several policemen were
cut by flying glass.
The loss will probably exceed $500
0O0. The fire started ou the second
floor, and, owing TO the combustible
nature of the goods stored thereon,
spread rapidly. The flames ran along
the hatchways and stairways to the up
per floors, and in fifteen minutes the
whole building was ablaze. 1t was with
difficulty that the flames were keptfrom
the adjoining buildings.